When to Ask for Reviews: Timing Strategies That Work

The best time to ask for reviews is immediately after a positive customer experience, when satisfaction is highest and the interaction is fresh in their mind. For most Australian businesses, this means requesting feedback within 24-48 hours of purchase or service completion, though the ideal window varies by industry.

Why Timing Matters for Review Requests#

How Fresh Experiences Drive Higher Response Rates#

Customer memory and enthusiasm fade quickly. Research shows that 80% of people are more likely to leave a review within the first few days of a positive experience. When you ask a tradie customer to review your plumbing service three weeks later, they've moved on mentally. When you ask the next day? They're still thinking about how well you fixed their burst pipe.

The psychology is straightforward: immediate requests capitalise on emotional momentum. Your customer is satisfied, relieved, or delighted—that's your window.

The Cost of Poor Timing#

Wait too long, and you'll face:

• Forgotten details: Customers can't recall specifics to write meaningful reviews
• Lower engagement: Response rates drop by up to 50% after the first week
• Competing priorities: Life gets busy, and your request becomes background noise
• Negative experiences resurface: If a problem develops later, the customer's goodwill evaporates

Industry-Specific Optimal Review Request Timing#

Hospitality and Restaurants#

Ask for reviews within 2-4 hours of the customer leaving your venue. This is when the experience is most vivid—they're still thinking about that perfectly executed dish or the friendly service.

Many Australian restaurants now use table QR codes linking directly to Google Reviews or their website review form. Timing this request as customers finish their meal, while they're still seated and satisfied, works exceptionally well.

Professional Services (Accountants, Lawyers, Tradies)#

The optimal window is 24-48 hours after service completion. For tradies especially, this means requesting a review the day after the job is finished, once the customer has had time to inspect the work and confirm everything's satisfactory.

A Melbourne-based electrician who implemented same-day review requests saw a 35% increase in response rates compared to their previous one-week-later approach.

Healthcare and Wellness#

Request reviews 3-7 days post-appointment. This gives patients time to experience results (especially relevant for physios and dentists) while the appointment is still memorable. A Sydney dental practice found that requesting reviews five days after a cleaning yielded twice the response rate compared to immediate requests.

E-commerce and Retail#

For online purchases, ask 5-7 days after delivery. This timing allows customers to receive, unbox, and use the product, giving them enough experience to write detailed reviews. Too early, and they haven't even opened the package.

Real Estate and Property Services#

Request reviews 1-2 weeks after settlement or lease completion. Customers need time to settle in and experience the property before they can fairly review your service.

The Day of the Week Factor#

When Do Australians Actually Read Emails?#

Tuesday through Thursday sees the highest email open rates—typically 5-10% higher than Monday or Friday. If you're sending review requests via email, timing them for Tuesday morning (around 9-10 AM) catches customers when they're checking their inbox during work.

Sunday evenings also perform well, as people often review their week and respond to pending requests. A Brisbane-based accounting firm found that Sunday evening review requests had a 22% response rate, compared to 14% for Friday afternoon requests.

Mobile Users Dominate#

Over 70% of Australian consumers access reviews on mobile devices. If you're requesting reviews via SMS or push notifications, timing matters less—people see these immediately. However, the quality of your request matters more. Keep it short, include a direct link, and make it mobile-friendly.

Seasonal and Business Cycle Timing#

Peak Season Advantages#

During your busy season, customers are more engaged with your business. A landscaping company in Perth noticed review requests generated 40% higher response rates during spring (their peak season) compared to winter.

Use your busy periods strategically. If you're a tax accountant, requesting reviews in June (end of financial year) capitalizes on recent, intensive client interactions.

Post-Project Completion Windows#

For project-based businesses (builders, renovation contractors, event planners), request reviews within 48 hours of project completion, then follow up with a second request one week later if you haven't received a response. This two-touch approach captures both the immediate satisfaction window and those who needed a gentle reminder.

Practical Implementation Strategies#

Automate Without Losing the Human Touch#

Use Starworks or similar platforms to automate review requests at optimal times, but personalise the message. "Hi Sarah, thanks for choosing us for your kitchen renovation" performs better than generic "Please leave a review" requests.

Automation ensures consistency—you won't forget to ask because you're busy. A Melbourne café owner automated review requests 24 hours after each transaction and increased their monthly reviews from 3-4 to 12-15.

The Multi-Channel Approach#

Don't rely on a single request method:

1. Email: Send within 24-48 hours with a direct review link
2. SMS: Follow up with a text message 2-3 days later (shorter attention span, but higher open rates)
3. In-person: Ask verbally during the final interaction—the highest-converting method
4. QR codes: Place them on receipts, invoices, or packaging for impulse responses

A Sydney plumbing company uses this sequence: verbal request during the job, email with link the next day, SMS reminder three days later. Their response rate jumped from 8% to 31%.

Segment Your Timing#

Not all customers are equal. Your VIP clients or repeat customers might warrant immediate requests, while new customers might need 48 hours. Track which timing works best for different customer segments using your review platform's analytics.

Common Timing Mistakes to Avoid#

Asking Too Soon#

Requesting reviews before the customer has fully experienced your service backfires. They can't write a fair review of a restaurant meal before they've eaten it.

Asking Too Late#

Waiting more than two weeks almost guarantees low response rates. The customer has moved on, and your request feels like spam.

Ignoring Time Zones#

If your business operates across multiple Australian time zones (or serves interstate customers), schedule requests for their local business hours, not yours.

Neglecting the Follow-Up#

One request rarely converts. A polite second request 3-5 days after the first can double your response rate without feeling pushy.

Measuring What Works for Your Business#

The "optimal" timing is specific to your industry and customer base. Track these metrics:

• Response rate by day: Which day generates the most reviews?
• Response rate by time: Morning, afternoon, or evening requests?
• Response rate by channel: Email, SMS, or in-person?
• Review quality: Do faster responses yield better or worse reviews?

A Brisbane hair salon tested request timing over three months and discovered that asking clients before they left the salon (via QR code at checkout) generated a 38% response rate, versus 12% for email requests sent the next day.

Final Thoughts on Review Request Timing#

There's no universal "perfect" time—it depends on your industry, customer behaviour, and business model. However, the principle is universal: ask when satisfaction is highest, make it easy to respond, and follow up respectfully if needed.

Start with the industry benchmarks outlined here, measure your results, and adjust. Most Australian businesses see immediate improvements simply by moving their review requests from "whenever we remember" to a strategic, timed approach.